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Thursday, July 9, 2009

LSC Roundup 7-9

Texas Tech receiver headed to UIWThe upstart Incarnate Word football program has received another gift — only this time it doesn’t come courtesy of New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, a UIW athletics benefactor.

Texas Tech reserve wide receiver Todd Walker, who has a year of eligibility remaining, said he plans to play out his final season of with the Cardinals this fall.

A 6-foot-1, 180-pounder who runs a sub-4.4 second 40-yard dash, Walker joins suspended wide receiver Jerrell Wilkerson (Texas) as the Cardinals’ only players from Division I schools.Walker also considered Arizona.

“I got to meet with the coaches and players and definitely fell in love with it,” said Walker, a Pflugerville graduate. “I wanted to be part of the start of a new program for the record books.”

Walker caught seven passes for 37 yards last season. In 2007, he redshirted after suffering two hernias. He had 21 catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns in 2006.

While Walker figures to challenge for a starting spot from Day 1, Wilkerson’s presence might not be felt as soon.Wilkerson passed his spring courses but must still pass summer school — which runs into the second week of camp — to regain his eligibility, Santiago said.

But even if Wilkerson does that, Santiago said he would not play in the Aug. 29 season opener against Monterrey Tech.--------------------------------------------------***(Scout had Walker rated as a 4 star recruit and the #20 WR nationally coming out of HS in 2005, Rivals had him rated a 3 star recruit and #44 nationally as an athlete)***

OCC players head onSeveral former Orange Coast College football players, as well as one current Pirate, have found a home at four-year programs, Pirates Coach Mike Taylor confirmed Wednesday.

Taylor said Shad Baichtal and Benjamin Soza, both sophomore safeties in 2008, will play next season at West Texas A&M and Lenoir-Rhyne College, respectively.

Summer two-a-days: AFC East, NFC West4. Who the heck is Anthony Armstrong, and why should the rest of the NFL take notice?Want a fantasy football "sleeper" this year that not every one of your buddies knows about already? Spend a last-round pick on Miami Dolphins wide receiver Anthony Armstrong. Who the hell is Anthony Armstrong?

Good question.

Though he was a star at tiny West Texas A&M, Armstrong went understandably undrafted by the NFL after college and ended up with the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League instead. In Dallas, he became a fan favorite and a breakout star. He caught the eye of current Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland, who was with the Cowboys front office at the time. When Ireland made the move to Miami, he brought Armstrong with him, adding the lightning fast receiver to the Dolphins' practice squad in 2008.

Still a relative unknown to even the Dolphins' rabid fan base, Armstrong turned a lot of heads in minicamps last month. When OTA sessions began in May, he was likely the eighth or ninth receiver on the depth chart. After lighting it up throughout the OTA sessions and in five minicamp sessions in June, Armstrong might very well end up being one of the main go-to wideouts in Miami this season. It's certainly not a given that he'll make the final 53-man active roster. But if he's on the field, watch out.

At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, he's not a giant. But he's got speed — tons of it. Like No. 1 wideout Ted Ginn Jr., Armstrong's biggest task at hand will be learning to harness that speed, managing it to run precise and timely routes.

"You can really tell the difference from his route-running from a year ago until now," he said. "He understands that his speed is his weapon, but only when he uses it appropriately. He can't just outrun everybody. He has to have proper technique getting off the jam and get good, clean releases. He's done a really good job of that this spring."

Every year, there's a receiver that emerges from nowhere to make an impact. Whether it be Marques Colston or Mike Furrey, these guys work their way up the depth charts and make it impossible for coaches to keep them off the field.

Anthony Armstrong could be that guy in 2009.

Just don't tell your fellow fantasy league owners. You'll want him all to yourself.